Hopes of a treaty with First Nations people in Queensland appear doomed, with the opposition pledging to repeal existing legislation and the premier saying it needs bipartisan support to proceed.
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s comments came in response to a spectacular backflip by the Liberal National party leader, David Crisafulli, who on Thursday withdrew his party’s support for treaty, five months after voting for it.
Queensland’s Path to Treaty Act 2023 passed the parliament in May with bipartisan support and established a legal framework for a three-year “truth-telling and healing inquiry” and a new independent body called the First Nations Treaty Institute.
But on Thursday, Crisafulli said the LNP could no longer support a treaty, and would not pursue one if it wins office next year, as it would create “further division”. He said he was “listening” to the majority of Queenslanders, 69% of whom voted against a federal Indigenous voice to parliament on Saturday.
Palaszczuk has previously said the path to treaty “will define our humanity, our sense of fairness, and the legacy we leave our children”, but on Thursday backed away from pursuing a treaty without opposition support.
Asked if she thought Queenslanders still support treaties being negotiated with First Nations people, the premier replied: “That’s a long way off and that would require bipartisan support.
“The next stage is truth-telling, and that’s a three to four-year process.”
She also said she doubted reparation payments would form part of a treaty, contradicting previous statements from her former Indigenous affairs minister, Craig Crawford.
Crawford told The Australian in May while he could not give an exact estimation of the cost of future treaties, most that occurred in New Zealand had “cost tens or hundreds of millions of dollars”.
But the premier dismissed Crawford’s comments, saying it was not her expectation that the treaties would cost so much.
Asked about whether a path to treaty would create division, the premier said that unity was needed in Queensland.
“I think Australians still do want reconciliation. We heard very loud and clear about the referendum, and we absolutely accept that,” she said.
“But there is still a big gap across the nation, across Queensland, when it comes to the life expectancy of First Nations [people], [their] access to health services, access to fresh quality fruit and vegetables, health issues … that we need to address.”
Speaking ahead of the historic vote on treaty held in a regional sitting of parliament in Cairns in May, Crisafulli said he believed “Queensland should embrace this wholeheartedly”.
“I believe in truth-telling and to me that means telling it like it is … We cannot shy away from the real experiences of Indigenous Australians throughout history. We must tell the truth about the real challenges they are facing today.”
But Crisafulli told reporters on Thursday he was not prepared to “do what the prime minister did and just continue strongly without listening”.
Crisafulli was asked how voters can be confident that he will not abandon “difficult issues” for fear of upsetting Queenslanders if he’s elected premier.
“I’ve always been respectful and I’ve always taken the time to absorb decisions,” he responded.
Crisafulli was also asked how repealing the legislation and ditching truth-telling would unify – and not divide – Indigenous communities.
“Going down the same path for another bruising six months, 12 months, several years, in my mind would not advance anything. It would regress the situation.”
The premier slammed Crisafulli for his about face.
“What you have is someone who you cannot trust. You have a person who says one thing in the parliament and then goes and does something else … I mean, you either have principles, you either have trust, or you don’t,” she said.
Greens MP Michael Berkman said it was “incredibly cowardly” for the LNP to walk away from the path to treaty.
“It’s a sad indictment on where politics has stooped to in Queensland that only days after reaffirming his commitment to treaty, the opposition leader’s completely canned the entire prospect,” he told Guardian Australia.
“This is rank opportunism from Crisafulli and he’s playing [the government] like a fiddle.”
